Statistics show that a high proportion of intruder
alarm calls are, for a variety of reasons, false.
With an increase in the number of alarm installations
and the resulting false calls, police have introduced
policies incorporating sanctions of reduced
and total withdrawal of police response.
The Association of Chief Police Officers England,
Wales & Northern Ireland (ACPO) and the
Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland
(ACPOS) released these policies on Police response
to monitored security systems on 1st January
2001 and 3rd June 2002 respectively.
The aim of these changes was to reduce the number
of false alarms that Police attended, which
in turn has enabled them to provide a more effective
response to genuine intruder alarm activations.
The policies place great emphasis on the use
of Confirmed Alarm Technology.
Systems installed prior to the 1st October 2001
within England, Wales & Northern Ireland
retain the right to pass unconfirmed alarms
until such time as they may lose police response.
Thereafter they will be required to upgrade
to confirmed alarm technology. All new intruder
alarm systems are required to be installed with
confirmed technology in England, Wales and Northern
Ireland, whilst in Scotland it is recommended
to do so.
This section of the site outlines the effect
these policies will have on you, as well as
offering you a free security audit to discuss
the methods available for minimizing false alarms.
Police response is dependent on the number of
false alarms policed in any rolling 12 month
period, the thresholds at which police response
levels change is detailed in the table below.
(West Midlands Police varies.)
Level 1
| Immediate response |
1
- 2 false calls |
Level 2
| Police attendance may be delayed due to
other priorities |
After
2 false calls |
Level 3
| Police response withdrawn, Keyholder notified
only |
After
5 false calls |
Preventing False Alarms
| • |
Ensure people using
your alarm system have been correctly
trained |
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|
| • |
Try to minimise
the number of people who operate the system
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| • |
Before leaving the
premises check that all doors and windows
are physically secured |
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| • |
Ensure detection
devices are not obstructed |
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| • |
If movement detectors
are installed do not introduce new sources
of heat, movement or sound in the area
they protect |
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|
| • |
Always follow the
agreed entry/exit procedure |
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|
| • |
Ensure you have all
keys, key fobs and alarm system code numbers
available when entering or leaving the
premises |
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| • |
Inform us of any
alterations to your premises which may
affect your alarm system |
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| • |
Inform us immediately
of any damage to the alarm system, its
detectors or wiring |
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| • |
Procedures for re-setting
the system after a false alarm remain
the same: after a false alarm, note the
cause of activation and call us immediately
to arrange for the system to be reset
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